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8371563 
Book/Book Chapter 
Ovarian toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons 
Luderer, U 
2018 
Elsevier 
Encyclopedia of Reproduction 
731-739 
English 
PAHs are mutagenic and carcinogenic chemicals formed during incomplete combustion of organic materials. They are metabolized to reactive metabolites that can damage DNA, resulting in cell death or mutations and cancer. Ovarian germ cells and follicles are highly sensitive to PAHs. Exposure to PAHs rapidly destroys germ cells in the developing ovary and primordial and primary follicles in the postnatal ovary. Ovarian cancers subsequently develop in these germ cell-depleted ovaries later in life. PAHs also cause death of granulosa cells of more mature secondary and antral follicles. This chapter discusses the mechanisms by which PAHs damage the ovary. © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 
3-methylcholanthrene; Apoptosis; Aryl hydrocarbon receptor; Bax; Benzo[a]pyrene; Development; Developmental origins; Dimethylbenzanthracene; Embryo; Fetus; Ovarian cancer; Ovarian follicle; Ovary; P53; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon